Phidippus is a genus in the family Salticidae (jumping spiders).[1] Some of the largest jumping spiders inhabit this genus, and many species are characterized by their brilliant, iridescent green chelicerae. Phidippus is distributed almost exclusively in North America, with the exception of two exported species (Phidippus audax and Phidippus regius).[2] As of January 2021, there were about 80 described species in the genus.[1] Species previously described in Phidippus which are found in India and Bangladesh do not belong in this genus.[2]

Phidippus
Phidippus audax shows green chelicerae
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Salticidae
Subfamily: Salticinae
Genus: Phidippus
C. L. Koch, 1846[1]
Type species
Attus audax
Hentz, 1845[1]
Species

See text.

Name edit

The genus name is likely derived from Cicero's speech Pro Rege Deiotaro (Speech in Behalf of King Deiotarus): Phidippus was a slave who was physician to King Deiotaros.[3] Literally, the word means "one who spares horses" in Ancient Greek.[4]

Species edit

Bold Jumping Spider (Phidippus audax) with a cutworm (tribe Noctuini) and then lost to ants (Family Formicidae)

As of January 2021, the World Spider Catalog accepted the following species:[1]

Misplaced species edit

In addition to the species above, several species have been misplaced in the genus (according to Edwards' revision) but have yet to be transferred to other genera.[2] These include:

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e "Gen. Phidippus C. L. Koch, 1846", World Spider Catalog, Natural History Museum Bern, retrieved 2021-02-03
  2. ^ a b c Edwards, G. B. (2004). pp. vii, 4–6.
  3. ^ Cicero (45 BCE). "Pro Rege Deiotaro".
  4. ^ Ubick et al. 2005

Bibliography edit

  • Gardner, B.T. (1965): Observations on Three Species of Phidippus Jumping Spiders (Araneae: Salticidae). Psyche 72:133-147 PDF (P. californicus = P. coccineus, P. apacheanus, P. octopunctatus = P. opifex)
  • Ubick, D., Paquin, P., Cushing, P.E. and Roth, V. (editors) (2005): Spiders of North America: An Identification Manual. American Arachnological Society ISBN 0-9771439-0-2
  • Edwards, G.B. (2004): Revision of the jumping spiders of the genus Phidippus (Araneae: Salticidae). Occasional Papers of the Florida State Collection of Arthropods 11: i-viii, 1–156, 350 figs.

External links edit

Videos edit

  • David Edwin Hill: Portrait of feeding female Phidippus audaxVideo
  • David Edwin Hill: Variable female forms of the jumping spider Phidippus clarusVideo

Pictures edit